Intake manifold heater



May 5, 1931.

W. R. STRlCKLAND INTAKE MANIFOLD HEATER Filed Sept. 21, 192' 2 Sheets-Sheet [MI/121m Patented May 5, 1931 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE WILLIAIVI R. STRICKLAND, OF DETROIT, MICHIGAN, ASSIGNOR TO GENERAL MOTORS CORPORATION, OF DETROIT, MICHIGAN, A. CORPORATION OF DELAWARE INTAKE MANIFOLD HEATER Application filed. September 21, 1927. Serial No. 221,078.

This invention relates to a means for heating the fuel mixture of internal combustion engines, particularly those of the V-type as applied to automotive vehicles.

Prior construction for heating the fuel mixture on V-t-ype engines have made use of fairly elaborate structures which were positioned above the horizontal plane of the exhause manifolds and well without the V. In the present invention the heating chamber is simplified and is confined to a centrally located position and has the heating chamber positioned well down toward the bottom of the V. I am enabled to place the heating chamber farther down within the V due to the fact that use is made of a horizontal carburetor. The carburetor is attached in the rear of the heating chamber and has an air cleaner in alignment therewith. The two arms of the V have the usual exhaust manifolds which extend toward the front end and are united by means of a pipe which leads the exhaust gases to a common exhaust pipe.

The preheating is accomplished principal- 1y due to a surging or siphoning effect which is caused to take place at the junction of the exhaust manifolds. At the point of junction a lip or blade extends within the 1* common pipe and is the means of causing a surging or siphoning effect on one branch as the exhaust gases are forced out of the second branch.

The heating chamber is united with the opposite manifolds by means of two pipes, the connections of which with the heating chamber are at diagonally opposite points. The heating chamber has at either side an outlet to the intake manifold to permit of the passage of the carburetcd mixture from the heating chamber to the firing chambers. These outlet passages are also located at diagonally opposite corners of the heating chamber and are parallel to the pipes which lead from the exhaust manifold to the heating jacket. The heating jacket has a customary channel therethrough to allow for the passage of the carbureted mixture to the intake manifolds. A longitudinal lip extends from the top of the heating chamber to substantially its mid-portion, the purpose of which is to force the hot exhaust gases around the fuel passage within the chamber.

As the exhaust gases are forced into the common exhaust pipe, the rush past the lip at the junction will cause a surging or siphoning effect on the opposite branch, thereby producing a corresponding tendency to a surging or siphoning effect through the pipes connecting the exhaust to the heating chamber and cause a constantsurging to and fro of hot gas through the heating chamber. I v

The invention is disclosed on the accompanying drawing in which: 4

Figure 1 is a plan View of a V-type internal combustion engine used on auton'ioti-ve vehicles. I s

Figure 2 is a front view of the engine showing the heating chamber and its location with respect to the V.

Figure 3 is a plan View of the heating chamber per se with parts shown in section for purposes of clearer illustration, the sectional portion of the View at the center showing the top cover removed while the sectional portion at the left is taken through the fuel outlet. T

Figure l is an end view of the heating chamber with parts shown in section for purposes of clearer illustration, the sectional portions being taken in two different planes.

With reference to the numbered parts on the drawing, 10 indicates a V-type automotive engine having the two banks of cylinders l2 and 14. The exhaust manifolds are indicated at 16 and 18, while 20 and 22 designate the intake manifolds. The air cleaner is shown at 24, while 26 denotes a horizontal carburetor of any suitable type.

The exhaust manifolds terminate at the front of the engine as shown at 28 and 30 and are joined by means of a connection 32 terminating in the common outlet 34 which joins onto the exhaust tube 36. At tion of the arms 88 and 40 of the connection 32, I provide a lip or flange 42 which extends a considerable distance within the outlet 34, the purpose of which will be later described. v I

0 K the unc- My novel heating chamber is shown at 44 and comprises the inlet 46 joined as at 48 to the carbureter 26 and having the enclosed fuel passage 50 terminating in the outlets 52 and 54, which join as at 56 and 58, onto the intake' manifolds 20 and 22, respectively. A rib 6O extends frc-m the top or cover-62 of the heating chamber 44 to a point substantiallymidway of the chamber as shown at 64. This-rib dividestheupper portion of the chamber 44'ii'ito twoparts and h'as for its purpose the forcing of the exhaust gas around the fuel passage 50. Thefuel passage 50 within the chamber 44 is spaced from the walls thereof as shown at and has the rings-GG -and' 68- integral therewith, theipurpose of which isitoaid inthe absorption of the heat from the exhaust gases. Surroundingthefuel passage 50-is the space 70 formed by-t-he 'walls72 of the heating chamber 44.

'lhe'bottom of the heating chamber 44 is provided with -a removable cover plate 74 permit-ting access to the interior of the chamber. Screws '75 are used to attach the plate F4.

Connecting-theexhaust manifolds 16 and 18 with the heating chamber 44 are two pipes 76and 78 respectively. These pipes as will be noted from'Figure 1-are connected to the heating chamber 44 at diagonally opposite points as, shown at '80 and 82,-the purpose of which is to secure a more even distribution of the hot gases within the. chamber. I

From a further inspection of Figure 1 it 'ill be noted thattheoutlets 52 -and54 carrying the carburetedmixture into the intake manifolds are likewise connected to the heating chamber at diagonally opposite points andare parallel to the pipes 76 and 78 serving as the connections for the exhaust manifold.

Theop'e'ration of the device is as follows:

\Vhenthe exhaust manifold 18 at the left discharges "through the common opening 34 there will be a rush-of gas past the lip 42 whic-h'will tendto cause a siphoning effect on the exhaust gases within the arm 40 of the connection 32. This siphoning effect will draw the exhaust gases through the connection 76' from the exhaust chamber and have a tendency to .pull the hotter exhaust gases from the connection 78 intothe chamber 44. lV hen the exhaust'from the manifold 18 has taken place theop'posite manifold 16 will begin to discharge the spent gases and will cause a rushor surge of the gases through the ='arm"40,' of the connection 32, and cause 3-. siphoning effect on thegases within-the arm'38 and-exhaust-manifold 18, thereby tending'topull the-exhaust gases through the connection 7 8,'fronr the chamber 44, and cause the entrance of the hotter exhaust gases through the pipe 76 from the exhaust haust manifolds, a means for preheating the fuel= mixture comprising a: heating chamber located well within the V, a horlzontal car- "buretor'atta'ched to the chamber and similarly located, a coimection from the exhaust manifold of each bank of cylinders attached to said chamber at diagonally opposite points; means for conducting the fuel mixture through the chamber, and means attached to the chamber at diagonally opposite points for leading'the fuel mixture to'the intake manifold.

'2. A heating chamber for heating the'fuel mixture of internal combustion engines, a fuel inlet to'said chamber, aplurality of fuel outlets attached to said chamber at diagonally opposite points, a pluralitysof inlets attached to said chamber at diagonally opposite .points to permit the entrance of exhaust gases, said outlets and exhaust s inletslocate'd in pairsand parallel to each other, I and means for conducting the 'fuel mixture through said. chamber.

3. A heating chamber .for heating the fuel mixture of internal combustion engines. a fuel inlet to said chamber, a plurality of fuel outletsattached to said chamber "at diagonally opposite points, aplurality of inlets attached to said chamber at diagonally opposite points, to permit the entrance-of exhaust I gases, means for conducting the fuel mixture through said chamber, anda rib in said chamber to forcethegas to-circulate around said means.

4. In combination with a V-type internal combustion engine, a heating jacket posit oned at the bottom of the V, 'a carburetor for delivering carburette'd fuel to saidjacket, lateral outlets in said jacket, intake-manifolds :atthe sides of the V, means directlv connecting said outlets and manifolds, and means for circulating exhaust gas-through the heater. l

5. In combination with a -V-type internal combustion engine, a heating jacket positioned at thebottom of-the V, a carburetor for delivering carburetted fuel-to said jacket, lateral outlets .in said jacket, intake manifolds at the sides of the V, means directly connecting said outlets-and intake manifolds, exhaust -mani'folds, I and -means connecting the exhaust manifolds and-the top of the heater to permit the circulation of exhaust gas therethrough.

In testimony whereof I affix mv si nature.

WILLIAM R. sTaIo'KLiiNn. 

